Trench-building machine



(No Model,) 4 SDet S Sheet 1.

' W. s. MORTON.

TRENGH BUILDING MACHINE.

No. 315,534.' n, Patented A r. 14, 1885.

Sheet 2 4 Sheets Patented Apr. 14,: 1885.

W. s. MORTON. TRENUH BUILDING MACHINE;

(No Model.)

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(N0 ModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. S. MORTON. TRENGH'BUILDING'MAGHINE.

N0. 31 5,534. Patented Apr. 14, 1885'.

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I (No ModeL) W S MORTON 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

' TRBNGH BUILDING MACHINE.

No 315,534; Patented Apr. 14; l885.-

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TRENCH-BUILDING MACHINE.

srncrr'roarrolv forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,534, dated April 14, 1885.

Application filed June 6,1884. (No model.)

To 00% whom it may concern- Be it known that I, WALTER Soorr Mon- TON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey, in the State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTrench- Building Machines, of which the following specification is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being also had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a semi-sectional side elevation, Fig. 2 is a semi-sectional plan view, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation, of the derrickframe. &c. Fig. at is a sectional side elevation, and Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view, of the lagging-driving mechanism. Figs. 6 and 7am enlarged detacheddetails of the friction-gear mechanism. v

This apparatus is designed to be used in forming trenches for sewers, water or gas mains, and ditches, 8m, in railroad and similar work; and it consists in a frame-work, A, mounted upon trucks B, adapted to run upon movable temporary tracks 0. These tracks will be formed in sections and laid parallelat suitable distances apart along the line of the' trench D, as shown.

When the trenches are formed in sandy or loose gravelly or moist soil, (which has a tendency to cave in,) the sides of the excavation are supported by pieces of lagging D as shown; but in hard clay or rock these supports will not generally be needed.

At intervals along the frame A, derricks E are arranged, and adaptedto swing'in over the trench D or out away from the frame A, so that the earth, &c., excavated may be hoisted out and removed away from the trench, or brick, pipes, tile, or other material lowered down into the trench.

The frame A will usually be made long enough to supportfour or more of these derricks; but any required number may be used.

I have shown three derricks in the drawings, but the number is immaterial; but a sufwhile one set is being used to hoist the excavated material from the trench, the others may be used in lowering material into the completed trench to build the sewer, lay the piping, 86C. The

last derrick may also be utilized to pull up the lagging after the work is done, as shown at D in Fig. 1. Each of the derricks is provided with a chain-pulley, a, in its outer end,

and with a chain-pulley, a, attached to each mast of each derrick a shortdistance down from the top, as shown. l

The top step or journal, I), of each of the derricks has a hole through its center corresponding to a hole through the socket-plate b", in which the upper end of the derrick-mast revolves, so that a chain can pass from the load being carried by the derrick up over the pulley a, back beneath the pulley a and up through the holesin the steps, and thence over a third pulley, a attached to the top of the frame A. By this means the derricks are free to revolve without cramping or interfering with the action of the chains.

From the pulleys c the chains run over and are attached to spools on drums E on top of the frame A, one spool being arranged oppositefeach derrick. These spools are mounted upon short shafts journaled on the frame A, one end of each of said shafts being held in a sliding box, E by which a friction-drum, F, onth'e same-shaft may be thrown in and out of contact with a friction-pinion, F, attached to a constantly-revolving shaft, F journaled upon top of the frame Alengthwise. This one shaft F thus operates all the machinery of the apparatus.

G G are two rods or shafts journaled in bearings or hangers beneath the top crossstringers of the frame A, and each rod G is provided on one end with a crank-arm, c, and each rod G and G has on its other end handle'vers'd (P, by which the rods may be oscillated. Each of the sets of spools and frictionwheels and pinions will be provided with two of these shafts or rods G G and all the shafts will be led to one point of the frame A, so

that all their handles (1 d will be close together, as shown in Figs. 1 and}, to enable all the shafts to be manipulated from one point. The sliding boxes E of thespools E are arranged to slide upon metal platesE one end of each of the plates also carrying the boxes E of the shaft F Attached to or formed in one piece with each of these plates E between the boxes E and E, are standards E between whose upper ends are pivoted the upper ends of levers E, which run down through the plates E and frame A, and each connected to one of the crank-arms c on one of the shafts G by connecting-rods E each of the levers E of each separate system being thus connected to its separate shaft G. A short distance down from its top each of the levers E is connected by a pivoted rod, E to one of the sliding boxes E so that by moving the handles (1 of any one of the rods G the friction-drum F connected therewith will be moved away from or toward its frietion-pinion F and thus be thrown in and out of gear with the shaft F Attached to each of the shafts of or formed in one piece with the friction-drums F is a ratchet-wheel, H, and each ratchet is provided with a pawl, H pivoted on the plate E, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. Each pawl is provided with a leverarm, H connected by a rod, H, to a crankarm, H on one of the rods G each pawl being connected to its own separate rod, and adapted to be thrown in and out of gear with its own separate ratchet by its own independent lever, d. Over the top of each of the friction-drums F is arranged a strap, K, pivoted at one end. to the frame A by rods K and connected at the other end to a short shaft, K by an arm, K, the shafts K being journaled in standards K on the frame A. Each of the shafts K is provided with a lever-arm, K, which is connected by a rod, K, to a crank-arm, K on each of the shafts G Between the straps K and drums F wooden or other suitable blocks, e, are secured, which act as a frictionbrake upon the drums. By this arrangement the pulling of the handle vers d backward will raise the pawls H free from the ratchet-wheels H, and at the same time set the brakes upon the friction-drums F, the object to be hereinafter explained.

The lever-arms H and K and the crankarms K are perforated at intervals, so that the rods H and K may be adjusted higher or lower to regulate the throw of the pawls and brake-straps. The levers E are also perforated to permit the adjustment of the rod E;

p but as the adjustment whereby the throw of the friction-drum F is regulated must be very delicate, the rod E is formed in two parts, with a screw-adjustment, 9, connecting the two parts, so that the rod can be lengthened and shortened to an extremely nice adjustment. This screw adjustment may also be used in the other rods 11* K, if desired.

The rods H and K will be so adjusted upon their respective lever-arms that when the rods G are drawn in one direction the pawls will be free from the ratchet-Wheels H a short time before the brake-blocks e strike the drums F, so that by moving the levers (1' just the proper distance, the drums and spools will be left entirely free; but by pulling the same levers a little farther backward the brakes can be set. By this means each and all of the separate sets of the spools of the system and the friction brakes, pawls, and means for throwing them in and out of gear with the shaft F are under the control of one man by bringing all the handles (1 d to one point and connecting all the mechanism to the rods controlled by these handles.

The friction-brakes will be found very useful in lowering material down into the trenches; but may be dispensed with, if preferred.

The frame A will be made in sections, so that it canbe taken apart for transportation or bent around curves to a limited extent.

The shaft F will be provided at intervals with loose couplingsFfl so that any slight irregularity of surface or form of the trench,or uneven setting of the frame A or track 0 will not affect the revolution of the shaft.

L L are two base frames or timbers, each supported on separate trucks, L, running upon tracks or plankways L upon each side of the trench D beyond the frame A. Rising from near one end of each of the timbers L L are uprights L L, connected across their tops by a cross-timber, L Suspended from the under side of this cross-timber L is a trussed frame, L supported by truss-rods h, the outer sides of this truss-frame and the innor sides of the uprights L L forming two parallel Ways, L L, in which pile-driver hammers L L are adapted to be raised and lowered by ropes or chains 2" i, leading over pulleys t z, and thence back to a spool or drum, M, on the frame A, as shown in Fig. 5.

The two ropes z" i are joined together at P, and from thence one rope, i, only leads to the spool M, so that both hammers L L are raised and lowered at the same time.

The drum M is mounted on ashaft, M ,running in suitable bearings on the frame A,and provided with a bevel friction wheel, N, adapted to be revolver]. by a similar bevel friction-wheel, N on the shaft F.

N is a lever connected by a rod, N*, to a crank-arm, N, on a shaft, G parallel with and similar to the system of rods G G and provided with a handle for operating the shaft G close to the handles 01 (1 so that, if desired, the same person who operates the derricks E may also operate the hammers L L. This latter feature is not material, however, as the latter handle, (1, may be placed nearer the spool M, and be operated separately, if 120 preferred.

The shaft of the drum M is free to be moved endwise slightly, and is provided with a fixed grooved collar, N in which pins in a yoke on the end of the lever N 3 fit, so that when said lever is operated the friction-whee1 N will be thrown in or out of contact with the frictionwheel N, and thus operate or release the drum M.

The hammers L L are adapted to be used in driving the lagging D and the frame-work supporting them will usually be run in advance of the frame A and its derricks. One of the drums M and its attachments will be placed at each end of the frame A, or the drums may be made interchangeable, so that the lagging-driving mechanism may be used on either end of the machine, and thus avoid the necessity of reversing the position of the frame A when trenches are to be formed in the opposite direction.

The shaft F may be driven by any suitable means, either by an engine upon the frame A or on a separate frame, or bya portable engine at any suitable point away from the machine.

I do not wish to confine myself to the precise mechanism shown for throwing the drum M in and out of gear, asI am awarethat many other suitable devices may be used for that purpose.

The frame A may be so connected with the power that operates the derrick and hoistingspools as to be moved along the track 0 thereby.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim is 1. A frame-work running upona track and supporting a system of derricks, a separate hoisting drum or'spool for each of said derricks and mounted upon said frame and connected to said derricks by suitable hoistingchains, a revolving shaft common to all of said drums, and means whereby the revolution of said shaft may be imparted to or withdrawn from said drums or spools, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of frame A, derricks E, provided with suitable hoisting chains and pulleys, a drum or spool, E, for each of said derricks, and adapted to receive one end of each of .said hoisting-chains, a friction-drum, F, attached to each of said chain drums, arevolving shaft, F common to all of said drums, and provided with frictioupinions F and means whereby each of said friction-drums may be thrown in or out of contact with one of said frictionpinions, substantially as described.

3. Theframe A,carrying winding-drums E, centrally perforated socket-plates b", mounted on said frame, and guide-pulleys a mounted tangentially over said socket-plates, in combination with derricks E, provided with centrallyperforated top steps, b, which turn in the socket-plates b, chain-pulleys a, mounted on the derricks tangentially beneath the top steps, b, chain-pulleys a, mounted on the derricks, and hoisting-chains which pass over the pulleys a, under the pulleys a through the perforations in the steps b, and socket-plates b,over the guide-pulleys a and thence to the winding drums E, whereby said hoistingchains may be wound on said drums irrespective of the position of the derricks.

4. The combination of the frame A, carrying the derricks E, providedwith suitable hoisting-chains, drums E, mounted in sliding boxes E upon said frame and adapted to receive one end of said hoisting-chains, frictiondrums F, friction-pinions Fflmounted upon a revolving shaft, F shaft G, and means whereby the oscillation of said shaft G will move said sliding boxes to connect and disconnect said friction-drums and friction-pinions, substantially as set forth.-

5. The combination of drums E, the ratchetwheels H on the shafts of said drums, pawls which'engage with said ratchet-wheels, shaft G and mechanism connecting said shaft with said pawls, whereby the oscillation of thesaid, shaft will release or engage the pawls with their respective ratchet-wheels, substantially as herein set forth.

6. The combination of the frame A, carrying the derricks E, provided with suitable hoistingchains, drums E, mounted in sliding boxes E upon said frame, and adapted to receive one end of said hoistingchains, frictiondrums F, frictionpinions F mounted upon a revolving shaft, F ratchet-wheels H, pawls H", shafts G G and means whereby the oscillation of said shafts will move said sliding boxes to connect and disconnect said frictiondrums and friction-pinions and connect and disconnect said pawls from said ratchets, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the derricks E, provided with suitable hoisting-chains, drums E, upon which are wound said,l1oisting -chains, friction drums F, and ratchet -wheels H, mounted upon the shafts of the drums E, brake-straps K, adapted to said frictiondrums F, pawls H, which engage with said ratchetwheels H, shafts G and mechanism connect ing said shafts to the brake-straps K, and the pawls H whereby the oscillation of said shafts will simultaneously release the pawls and apply the brakes, or vice versa, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a frame, A, running upon a track, 0, and supporting a system of derricks, a constantly revolving shaft, F upon said frame, means for operating said derricks from said shaft, a movable frame for supportinglagging-drivinghammers L L, and means whereby the motion of said revolving shaft will elevate said hammers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER SCOTT MORTON. lVitnesses:

O. N. Woonwman, O. J. BROWN. 

